Ds1

iTrader: (2)

I agree, the Miata is "Winning" all around! I do love the fastback hard tops though, maybe I'll get another to be my hard top car...

p.s. I'll trade places with you! Its been raining all week here in Upstate New York, ugh.

pusha

iTrader: (5)

**** off you ******* piece of ****

ismael_pt

iTrader: (1)

About the OEM vs Streamline

I think the OEM design has its reason for being. When cruising at high speed the air turbulence hit the glass and the glass can generate an annoying audible frecuency. I think the OEM quarter panel acts like a damper.

Obviously this is a supposition, I don't really know if this is true.

y8s

iTrader: (8)

the description (which oddly is copypasta on multiple sites) of the streamline say it is designed after the NC top.

saint_foo

If you've got a double-diagonal HD rollbar, then I think you need a zippered window (glass) for the soft top, if I'm not mistaken. It takes some fenagling, but it works. Tedious, but doable.

I do suffer from the zipper tearing on mine (I think it's the Robbins one). Doesn't leak, but sags.

y8s

iTrader: (8)

I already have a glass top without zipper and a double diagonal rollbar... all works fine.

I'm currently looking into this for $414 in cloth with defrost:

http://www.miatatopsource.com/Produc...Code=NOG4099EC

Pitlab77

iTrader: (3)

same as me.

I've been even more happy with my NB the the NA I had since a HT was part of the deal with I bought the 99. I'm thinking more and more about removing the soft top and just bolting in the HT. THe weight practically offsets each other. I dont think the "class" **** would like that in SCCA but I have not raced with SCCA in forever.

shlammed

iTrader: (8)

I am also in the boat for a new top for my NA.

The current top is glass and i need to switch to plastic for roll bar clearance.

One thing i dont see in here is rain-rail discussion. I dont even know what it is and searching just shows how to swap it with rivets and ****. The option in the link that y8 posted above is another $100 and i dont know how much sense that makes.

Edit: not to thread jack.... sorry if i did.

y8s

iTrader: (8)

You can jack, i dont mind. I'm 99% of the way to getting the miatatopsource economy cloth with defroster glass window. I'm going to skip the rain rail and try to reuse mine (this is a questionable choice but prevents spending the extra $100 up front). If I DO need the rain rail, I can order separately.

that said, most comments suggest that if your top is a few years old, you're likely going to need the rain rail. my **** is 10 years old. I'm taking a risk.

revlimiter

iTrader: (1)

Great thread. I've been needing a top for a while. This is the 2nd of such threads on MT I've replied to in a few months.

Miatatopsource: Economy cloth top, defroster, rain rail, shipping = $548 to my door.
Planet Miata: Robbins cloth top, defroster, rain rail, shipping = $602 to my door with the MIATADOTNET 10% off coupon.

I'm kinda leaning toward Plant Miata right now...

-edit-
DAMN! I didn't realize Miatatopsource was charging nearly $100 for a rain rail. Those are usually a $50 add on. I think quite a few places sell it for $50 by itself.

-edit 2-
Holy poop. When did rain rails get to be $130ish by themselves? I just priced them separately. Wow. Stickershock.

rleete

iTrader: (21)

GET THE RAIN RAIL! Do you really want to put a top on all over again? Would you do a water pump without replacing the timing belt? This is one place that cheaping out will cost you time, frustration and possibly mildewed carpets. You're in there, might as well do it right and not have to do it again right away.

Also, replace the cables along the sides, chances are one is broken (or close to it) already. You can reuse seals if they're in decent condition. Wipe them down with brake fluid to restore some of the shine to them. It also takes off the old black oxidation.

Faeflora

iTrader: (2)

Bah. Take it from me. If you can do a job once, you may as well do it twice. Or Thrice. Or foursies.

bluemax

iTrader: (3)

I just replaced my top. I had the zippered glass window before and the zipper started seperating from the window. The snaps that hold the window up so you can zip it up also broke which made zipping the window up basically impossible unless someone was there to hold it up. I could BARELY hold it up with my head while zipping it up but **** it was a pita.

With that said, I bought one with a plastic window that doesn't unzip to replace it and I've been happy. It's kind of cool to be able to unzip the back window to let the air flow through but it's such a pita to lower and raise the top and zipping the window, to me it's just not worth it.

y8s

iTrader: (8)

i know my rain rail is intact because my drain holes were clogged and my reservoirs were all full of water (lots of rain this week)

however, i'm hoping it will be intact after I remove it too.

Revlimiter: new rain rails from finishline are $300.

y8s

iTrader: (8)

The Miatatopsource/KEE economy cloth + glass + defrost is installed.

It was kind of a bitch and the directions sucked but it's done. it might need a few minor tweaks on the weather stripping to seal against the windows better but it fits pretty nicely. It was done on a relatively warm day so stretching it was easy. The next day I was able (with the help of the braineack) to fully tighten the top latches and close it up.

the only minor minor issue is that the KEE instructions say to route the inner flap thing differently than everyone else which would make it sit too low and rub my roll bar (and while I do enjoy a good bar rub, this is not the time or place) so I did it the miata way. the effect is that when the top is down, the flap puts pressure on the bars and make the top spring up a little. it'll go down with a little pressure but i'm not sure if it will fix itself over time or if I'll have to man handle it.

that said it looks great but I took no photos. brainzo may have some somewhere.

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

i can post laterz.

shlammed

iTrader: (8)

Solid. Shipping was fast and such?

i will be getting mine with vinyl window because of my spec'd back half rollbar that is welded in and interferes with the window.

does the economy top window look ok? In pics it seems kind of cheese. (like below)

y8s

iTrader: (8)

the plastic windows are totally different than the glass windows. so I dont know.

shipping was super fast because I live within 1-2 days ground UPS from the manufacturer.

I think they take a day or so to custom make the top unless it's a standard off-the-shelf one.

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

y8s

iTrader: (8)

it's so tight like sexy pants.

thanks brainy